thebus: Is Sydney Crosby going to make the H.O.F.?

Shelly Anderson: Wow. That's looking down the road, eh? Sidney Crosby certainly has the talent to become a Hall of Fame player if you project even a steady pace, much less a steady increase in performance and production, for the 21-year-old. Assuming he has a fairly long and healthy career, he should have a place in the Toronto shrine.

ice_birds: With Whitney's return drawing near, what changes can we see in the defensive pairings?

Shelly Anderson: I'm as curious as you to see how the defensive pairings look when Ryan Whitney makes his season debut tomorrow night against Tampa Bay. He's been out all season after foot surgery. The Penguins have the personnel to go with one offensive and one defensive defenseman per pairing, but coach Michel Therrien hasn't always done that. When there are seven defenseman in a morning skate, the coach often rotates the pairings rather than going with what he will use that night, so it's hard to guess until we see the lineup.

ice_birds: With Dupuis looking like he's in the line-up tonight, do we see Wallace or Stone being a scratch?

Shelly Anderson: I'm not in in Buffalo, so I don't have inside information on that. If I had to guess, I'd say it might be Ryan Stone, only because Tim Wallace has had a few decent games as a fill-in for Tyler Kennedy on the third line. Then again, Jeff Taffe was filing in for Pascal Dupuis some on Sidney Crosby's line, so he's a possibility. And after the Penguins' poor performance Saturday in a 7-3 loss to Toronto, there could even be other candidates.

ice_birds: Are there any updates on the injuries to Kennedy or Gill? Possible return dates?

Shelly Anderson: Neither Tyler Kennedy, who has a sprained knee, or Hall Gill, who has a shoulder injury, have returned to practice, and at least Kennedy hasn't been cleared to skate. I would guess at least a week or two for both. The Penguins could use them back. Kennedy really helped make the third line click, and Gill's absence in penalty killing is obvious.

ajt123: Do you travel to all away games?

Shelly Anderson: I'm at all home games and about a quarter of the road games, plus the All-Star Game, with Dave Molinari picking up the bulk of the road games.

ice_birds: Are we any closer to knowing what the Power Play units will look like with Whitney's return or is that something we'll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out?

Shelly Anderson: No. When he got back from his one-game assignment in Wilkes-Barre Sunday, Ryan Whitney told us he had no idea how he might be used in the lineup tomorrow night, including how or even if he will be on the power play. He did not go to Buffalo, so we will have to find out tomorrow. On a side note, Whitney made it clear he would play with Santa Claus if it got him back on the ice.

ajt123: Do you ever find it difficult to do interviews with Coach Therrien? He sometimes seems a little "gruff", as exampled by the post game interview the other night ...

Shelly Anderson: No problems. Coach Michel Therrien is understandably upset if his team plays poorly -- and it certainly did Saturday -- but his emotion is aimed at the team and the situation, not at the media or fans.

ajt123: What is your opinion of the name "Consol Energy Center"?

Shelly Anderson: I can't say I have an opinion, really, other than there doesn't seem to be an obvious nickname. Mario Lemieux Coliseum would have a nice ring, but it's just a fact that teams and cities must sell the naming rights to sports venues.

NC_Dave: Do you think Whitney's return will help jump start the power play?

Shelly Anderson: Maybe not right away. He might not be on the first unit in his first game or two after not playing for several months. If Whitney plays on the first unit, the Penguins will have to decide whether to move Evgeni Malkin off the point to a forward spot -- and then who sits? -- or to the opposite side. That said, it would be like old times to see the back door play produce a goal, eh?

mkpgh1: Even though we're near the halfway mark of the season, do you think the balance of power is starting to shift in the Atlantic?

Shelly Anderson: You could make an argument for that, considering the strength of teams such as Boston and the New York Rangers. San Jose and Detroit seem to be the strength of the West, and the fall of teams like Dallas doesn't help that conference. Let's get to February or March, though, before we crown the East.

Shelly Anderson: Thanks, everyone. Happy Holidays. Chat with you next week.